Freezer divider



0. B. HAFNER FREEZER DIVIDER Feb. 10, 1953 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 Filed April29, 1950 1 7 2 1/e n for: Uli/er B.' J a/ner off/gs.

0. B. HAFNER FREEZER DIVIDER Feb. 10, 1953 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed April29, 1950 I UZi/TB uYd/"ner mm w/mz i Patented Feb. 10, 1953 FREEZERDIVIDER Oliver B. Hafner, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignor to AmanaRefrigeration, Inc., Amana, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa ApplicationApril 29, 1950, Serial No. 159,030

Claims. 1

The present invention has to do with a divider for a freezer.

As is generally known, a freezer is so constructed that it is opened atthe top instead of at the side, so that the cold air in the freezer doesnot readily escape when the freezer is opened. Because the freezer isopened at the top, it is impracticable to provide shelves, and instead,vertically disposed dividers are provided for segmenting the freezerinto sections.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novelconstruction divider for a freezer so constructed that it can be readilyinserted into or removed from the freezer, and when it is inserted itwill remain in true vertical position.

More specifically, the invention embodies a construction having ledgeson the side walls of the interior of the freezer and a divider mountedon and supported by the ledges, the ledges having grooves for receivingelements of the divider whereby the divider is retained against sidewisedisplacement by the articles stacked in the freezer.

Still another object is the provision of a construction including adivider and means for mounting the divider, in which it is not necessaryto provide anchoring means at the bottom of the divider, for example,for retaining the divider in upright position.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various elements of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinaftermore fully set forth, poin ed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective cutaway view of a freezer to which theconstruction of the present invention is applied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view taken on line 2-? of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1, showing thedetails of the means for securing the supporting channels in thefreezer;

Figure 6 is a view from the right of Figure 5, with the securing meansremoved;

Figure 7 is an enlarged View taken on line l'i of Figure 1, illustratingan alternate type of divider, and

Figure 8 is a view oriented similarly to Figure 1 but showing a modifiedform of mounting channel.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates at 12 afreezer as a whole, to which my invention is applied, including acabinet structure having the usual outer case I4, inner liner l6, andinsulation l8 therebetween. The elements just referred to constituteinsulated walls of the freezer cabinet structure and the inner linerdefines the interior space of the freezer which opens upwardly.Refrigerant coils are disposed in contact with the outer surface of theliner is as is usual in refrigerating machines. The refrigeratingapparatus does not constitute a part of the present invention, and it isbelieved that further reference thereto is unnecessary. A cover 22 ishinged to the cabinet to close down over the open top of the interiorspace.

Mounted on the inner surface of each of opposite side walls is a channel24 having a web 26, an inner flange 28 and an outer flange 30. Thechannels 24 are arranged with their open sides down, with the flange 30in engagement with respective side wall; the channels 24 may also bereferred to as ledges, in accordance with their function and purpose.

The inner flange 28 of each channel is provided with a plurality ofholes 32 (Figures 1 and 6) spaced longitudinally along the channel, andin line with the holes 32 are holes or horizontally disposed slots 34formed in the outer flange 30. The means for mounting the channels 24 onthe side wall of the interior space of the cabinet consists in a machinescrew 36, provided with a lock washer 38, inserted through the holes 34and then threaded into a lock nut which is spot welded to inner surfaceof the liner iii in line with an appropriate opening in the liner. Inthe present case the nut has a reduced portion extending through theopening in the liner and directly engages the outer flange 30 of thechannel. The holes 32 enable the screws 36 to be easily insertedtherethrough, the holes 32 being sufficiently large for that purpose,and for the purpose of extending a screw driver therethrough for turningthe screws in. The screw means 36 may be provided at any desired spacingnecessary for proper support for the channels.

Each channel 24 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spacedslots 42 cut through a portion of the web element 26 and verticallythrough the inner flange 23. The slots 42 are arranged transversely tothe length of the channel so that the slots in opposite channels are inlongitudinal alignment with each other, and the vertically disposedportions of the slots in the flanges 28 in opposite channels aredisposed in a common plane.

A reinforcing and supporting member 44 is secured across the verticalportion of each slot on the inner side of the flange 28. The member i tis in the form of a strip having its ends abutted flat against theflange (Figure 4) on opposite sides of the slot and spot welded theretoas indicated at 46. The central portion of the strip 45. is bentinwardly to form a loop 48 in line with the slot; the bottom edge of thestrip is preferably flushwith the bottom edge of the flange 28, but thetop edge of the strip is spaced downwardly from the web 26 of thechannel. The loops 48 form grooves, and the slots: 42 above the strips44 3 may also be considered as grooves, i. e., horizontal grooves.

The numeral 50 indicates a divider which in cludes a. top horizontalmember 52 in the form of a rod of a length to extend substantiallyacross the interior of the cabinet.

The divider also includes vertical members or rods 54 adjacent the endsof the rod 52, the rods 54 being integral with a bottom segment or rod56. The upper ends of the rods or menibers 54 are welded to the tophorizontal rod 52, with the end surfaces of the rods 54 abutted againstthe top rod. A plurality of intermediate rods 58 interconnect the toprod 52 and the bottom segment 54 for eompleting the divider, forming agrillworli. The rods 55 may also bewelded to the main part; ofthediiiider.

The numeral fill indiate'sl a modified form of divider which includesanti the elements referred to in connection with the divider 56'indicated bylike reference numeralswith some markings. The divider Soalso includes aportion extending above the horizontal rod 52 theoutermost vertical elements of which are indicated at The topportion ofthe divider to is substantially identical and svmnietriea'l with thebottom portion, the divider 50 being substantially twide the verticalheight of the divider 5B. 7 w W w 7 v The numeral 64 ind icatesa basketwhich may also be employed in-the freezer.

Figure 8 illustrates a mcdified form of channel formation for supportingthe divider The construction in Figure 8 is similar to that in- Figu-reebut instead at providing thereinf orcing stiips' M,-the material-oftheflange 28 is formed in a die and bent inwardly to produce a loop tocorresponding to the loop 48-. The loop 56 is of substantially the samevertical height as the strip :4," and'the web of the channel and theupper portion of the flange flare provided with slots in line with theloops 65 similar to the slots 62- referred to above; r

The divider suchas Edisinserted in'thefreezer by-loweringitin placeafter positioningthe vertical rodstdinthe grooves formed-bythe loops B8.The divider is-lowered to theposition wherein the ends of the horizontalrod 5% are in serted through the slots 4 2 and rest on the reinforeingstripsid. With-the vertical rods Mbeingthus disposed in the groovesformed by the loops the divider is restrained against anysidewiseswinging or displacement due to the vertical dimension of theloops; The ends ofthe tophcriaontal rod 52 as shown clearly in Fig.Z-are disposedentirely below the'web 25 of the channels, and a pleasingappearance results.

It is unnecessary to provide any anchoring: means such as at the bottomof the interior space for securing the lower ends ofthe dividersagainstdisplacement, or swinging out of true vertical I position;

The-result is the'same"in conneotion-wi-th the divider so; since thevertical-'rods-M' engage the loops 28 therein; wherebythe latter preventdis placement-of the divider.-

It is understood, ofcourse; that the basket 5&- maybe used or not;asrdesired; but when itisused ordinarily itis only usedin connectionwith the dividers-5o. However,-for purposes-of illustrating all-oithe-different items, they are arranged-as in Figure 1=because theyaremost easily viewed in that-arrangement.

Itwill be understood thatthe yer tical mem bers 54' he in a common planewith the top hori- 4 zontal member 52, so that when the top horizontalmember is in the grooves formed by the slots 42 the vertical members aredisposed in the grooves formed by the loops 48 which are in a commonplane with the slots.

The use of each of the dividers 50 and is the same as described above inconnection with the loops illustrated in Figure 8.

Brom ne above it will be seen that we have provided a constructionwhereby the dividers can be readily inserted into and removed from theinterior of the freezer, and when they are inserted in place they aresecurely held against displacement by no other securing means than themembers for supportingthe dividers.

While I have herein shown and described certain preferred embodiments ofinven: tion, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to belimited thereto, since many modi fieations may be made; and 1 thereforecontemplate by the claims appended hereto to cover any. suchmodifications or substitutions of mechanical equivalents as fall withinthe true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a divider construction for use in a cabinet having an interiorspace and vertical side walls, the combination msmminga ledge" on eachof opposite eide wane, said ledges having oppositely racingsiots outthere n, siibfiort members depending from eac'liled'ge and tontiorledbelow said slots, the" edges ofeaoh slot and the associate supportmember forming an upwardly opening saddle, said a support members havingportions thereof foiilriifigvertically extending' grooves, a dividerelementihaving a horizontal member and vertical members, said horizontalmember being supported at its ends by the of saddles opposite ledges,and said vertical members being positioned in said vertically extendinggrooves.

21 A device as' set forthin claim l wherein each upwardly opening saddleis associated with a verticallyextending groove, said upwardly openingsaume na associated vertically extending o e n osbie e e riis sla e- 3-A er Pe n n ton a it? can laim wherein portionsof said dividereleinentextend upwardly from said horizontal: member. t, u

4. In a divider constructitni for use in acabinet having aninteriorspace and vertical sidewalls, the combination comprising,a-ledgeoneachof opposite side walls extending-from said'side walls inwardly into saidinterior space, upwardly opening saddles formed in saidledges,vertically extending grooves formed in said ledges and facing inwardlyinto said interior space-each'saidverticallyextending groovebeingpositioned below oneofsaid upwardly opening saddles, a divider 5; Adevice as recited incl'aim' 4' wherein-said vertical extending groovesare' spaced from'the adjacent side walls, said'vertical members'ot thedivider element being positioned inwardly of the ends of saidhorizontalmember; and the ends" of' said-horizontal member, which endsextend outwardly oi said vertical members; being sup ported by saidupwardlyopening saddles.

6. In a: dividerconstructionfor use in acab'inet invitees manor spaceand viiiensiaewaus';

the combination comprising, a downwardly facing channel member securedto each of two opposite side walls, means for securing one leg of saidchannel to the adjacent wall, a plurality of slots cut in the web ofsaid channel and in the leg of said channel spaced from the wall, saidspaced leg of the channel having portions thereof bent to form loopswhich extend toward the Wall leg of said channel, said loop portionsbeing positioned beneath each slot in the channel web, the upper edge ofsaid loop being spaced below said. web, the edges of each slot in thechannel web and the upper edge of the corresponding loop forming anupwardly opening saddle, the walls of each loop defining a laterallyopening groove which extends dovmwardly along the length of the loop,and a divider element having a horizontal member and upright members,said horizontal member being supported by a pair of saddles in saidopposite channels, and said upright members being positioned in saidlaterally opening grooves.

7. In a divider construction for use in a cabinet having an interiorspace and vertical side walls,

the combination comprising a downwardly facing channel member secured toeach of two opposite side walls, means for securing one leg of saidchannel to the adjacent wall, a plurality of slots out in the web ofsaid channel and through the entire length of the channel leg spacedfrom the corresponding wall, a plurality of members each bent in theform of loops being secured to said spaced leg of the channel andbridging the slots therein, said loop members extending toward the Wallleg of said channel, the upper edge of said loop members being spacedbelow said channel web, the edges of each slot in the channel web andthe upper edge of the corresponding loop member forming an upwardlyopening saddle, each loop member defining a laterally opening groovewhich extends downwardly along the length of the loop member, a dividerelement having a horizontal member and upright members, said horizontalmember being supported by a pair of saddles in said opposite channels,and

said upright members being positioned in said laterally opening grooves.

8. In a divider construction for use in a cabinet having an interiorspace and vertical side walls,

the combination comprising, a horizontal supporting member secured toeach of two opposite side walls in the interior of the cabinet, eachsupporting member having a horizontal top surface and a downwardlyextending flange spaced inwardly from the respective side wall, the topsurfaces of said supporting member having longitudinally aligned slotscut therethrough and said flanges having vertical slots cut therethroughin register with said top slots, a reinforcing member secured to eachflange across the vertical slot therein and bent to form a loop inregister with the vertical slot, said loop forming grooves, and adivider having a horizontal member and vertical members adjacent theends of the horizontal member, the ends of said horizontal member beingpositioned in said top slots and resting on said loops with saidvertical members fitted in the grooves formed by said loops.

9. In a divider construction for use in a cabinet having an interiorspace and vertical side walls, the combination comprising, a horizontalsupporting member secured to each of two opposite side walls in theinterior of the cabinet, each supporting member having a horizontal topsurface and a downwardly extending flange spaced inwardly from therespective side wall, the top surfaces of said supporting members havinglongitudinally aligned slots out therethrough, and said flanges havingvertical slots cut therethrough in register with said top slots, areinforcing member secured to each flange across the vertical slottherein and bent to form a loop in register with the vertical slot, saidloops extending from the flanges toward the respective side walls of thecabinet and forming grooves opening toward each other, the upper edgesof said reinforcing members terminating below said top surfaces of thesupporting members, and a divider having a horizontal member andvertical members adjacent the ends of the horizontal member, the ends ofsaid horizontal member being positioned in said top slots and resting onsaid loops with said vertical members fitted in the grooves formed bysaid loops.

10. In a divider construction for use in a cabinet having an interiorspace and vertical side walls, the combination comprising, a horizontalsupporting member secured to each of two opposite side walls in theinterior of the cabinet, each supporting member having a horizontal topsurface and a downwardly extending-flange spaced inwardly from therespective side wall, the top surfaces of said supporting members havinglongitudinally aligned slots cut therethrough, said flanges being bentinwardly toward the respective sidewalls to form loops in register withsaid slots, said loops forming grooves facing each other, and a dividerhaving a horizontal member and vertical members adjacent the ends of thehorizontal member, the ends of said horizontal member being positionedin said top slots and resting on said loops with said vertical membersfitted in the grooves formed by said loops.

OLIVER B. I-IAFNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,116,184 Weiss Nov. 3, 19141,120,283 Clarkson Dec. 8, 1914 1,523,136 OConnor Jan. 15, 19251,644,472 Hatch Oct. 4, 1927 1,692,865 Riederer et a1 Nov. 27, 19281,979,514 Wilson Nov. 6, 1934 2,221,024 Hood Nov. 12, 1940

